Basketball game foul indicator



7, 1968 E. R. LUCKA 3,399,400

BASKETBALL GAME FOUL INDICATOR Filed Jan. 4, 1965 4 Sheets-Shet l FIG: 2

INVENTOR. EUGENE R. LUCKA ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I A 3 m 4322 A if M M I a r 14 |||.|H.|\ l M n g MR L m m L W 1 E 4 T 5 G Y H m B r F Q E. R. LUCKA BASKETBALL GAME FOUL INDICATOR Aug. 27, 1968 Filed Jan.

W a. ,o ATTORNEY Aug. 1968 E. R. LUCKA BASKETBALL GAME FOUL INDICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 4, 1965 FIG. 7

INVENTOR. EUGENE R. LUCKA 201M ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1968 E. R. LUCKA 3,399,400

BASKETBALL GAME FOUL INDICATOR Filed Jan. 4, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. .9

INVENTOR. EUGENE R. LUC/(A x ilumzfiw ATTORNEY United States Patent Oifice 3,399,401) Patented Aug. 27, 1968 3,399,400 BASKETBALL GAME FOUL INDICATOR Eugene R. Lucka, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Summit- General Industries, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 422,936 7 Claims. (Cl. 340-323) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A scoreboard is disclosed consisting of a vertically extending columnar structure of square cross section supported on a round post. The square section of the scoreboard is hollow and has translucent panels on each side which have opaque portions so that when illuminated the panels provide indications. There are selectively energized illuminating light bulbs in the hollow portion of the square section for providing the desired indications, as for example, the number of fouls on a particular player, whether one or the other team or both teams are in the one and one penalty area, or any other indication in which spectators may be interested. A control box is connected electrically to the bulbs of the scoreboard so that desired indications may be controlled.

This invention concerns a scoreboard for use primarily during sporting events to inform spectators of selected statistics of a game or event in progress.

Full enjoyment of a sporting event by a spectator depends on his knowing the scores or standings of the participants and a number of other details which depend on the sport involved. When a foul is committed by a basketball player, for example, the spectator immediately desires to know the total number of fouls charged against that player and desires to know, for example, if the one and one rule is in effect for either team.

Many mechanical and electrical scoreboards have been proposed and the stadiums and courts of college and professional teams are usually supplied with large billboard type structures on which alterable numerals printed on cards, or digital displays formed by selective illumination, record the statistics of the particular sport of interest. Such scoreboards are usually built against a wall of a court or are placed high above the spectators in a stadium in order not to block anyones view of the game. For this reason there are usually at least two such scoreboards so that people on both sides of the playing area can follow a scoreboard without turning around. Such scoreboards tend to be quite expensive and therefore out of the economic reach of a small school. They are expensive because of their size, because of their upkeep, because of the complicated signalling systems involved, and because they involve considerable wiring as, for example, the wires required to extend to boards on both ends of a basketball court.

A further objection to such scoreboards is their lack of portability. A school or a team may be provided with a very elaborate and expensive scoreboard and yet, because 50 percent of its games are played on another court, it may lose a considerable fraction of the advantage of owning such a scoreboard.

A still further objection to such scoreboards is the considerable area of these boards which is occupied by Words such as Home Team, Visitors, Fouls, etc. and the relatively small fraction of the area which is occupied by actual informative indicia.

A specific problem encountered in digital display devices and one which has been discussed by a number of patentees involves the difficulty of producing a well formed numeral which is clearly discernable at a distance of several hundred feet. This has been a particular troublesome problem in small scoreboards such as the one of interest here.

'Skelsey in US. Patent No. 2,137,360 issued in 1938, desiring, as do I, to reduce the number of lamps to a minimum, divided the desired indicia to be illuminated into a number of segments and sought to avoid dark spots at the intersections of the segments by providing lights which illuminated more than one segment. Results of tests on the structure of my invention, however, indicates that such dark spots are not objectionable if suitable illumination is otherwise provided for as in my invention. Wolfrey in US Patent No. 2,230,152, issued in 1941, attempted to solve this problem by providing a plurality of partitioned cells behind the segments wherein each cell was provided with a light bulb. Such a solution tends to increase the intensity of illumination but not necessarily its sharpness.

Sack in US. Patent No. 2,922,933 issued in 1960, achieved sharpness in the illumination of each segment of his indicia; for example, in seven segments forming a block 8. However, he succeeded only by using an expensive structure which is out of the economic reach of the market I seek to reach. Sack suggested making each segment electro-luminescent.

OBJECTS It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive and portable scoreboard suitable particularly for sporting events which take place in relatively small areas or courts, such as a basketball court.

It is a further object to provide a structure which can be placed in a manner so as to be seen from any of the spectators seats without significantly blocking the view of any spectator and without requiring a plurality of such scoreboards.

It is an object to provide a structure, which is easily transported, and easily set up, with a minimum of electrical impedimenta, and which may be portable or may be a permanent fixture as desired.

It is a further object to provide a scoreboard structure which utilizes a relatively large fraction of its area for the recording of significant indicia.

It is a further object to provide a scoreboard which can be used for a number of different events by very simple alteration.

It is a further specific object to provide a scoreboard for basketball which will indicate the number of fouls charged to a specific player and to indicate whether the one-and-one rule is in effect for either team.

It is also a specific object to provide a digital display in the form of a segmented block 8 which, when the segments are selectively illuminated will form a sharp image easily discernable at a distance of several hundred feet even though the numeral formed is relatively small.

I have now found that the foregoing and related objects can be secured in a scoreboard comprising (1) a relatively narrow, elongated structure of polygonal cross section which may be vertically extending or horizontally extending; (2) means for suspending electric wires within said structure; (3) sides for said structure comprising a normally translucent, light diffusing panel, portions of which panel have been rendered opaque and the balance of which remains as a plurality of translucent, light diffusing segments for forming indicia when the segments are illuminated in a selected manner; (4) a plurality of selectively positioned light blubs in electrical contact with said wires; and (5) control means comprising a plurality of switches, said Wires, said bulbs and a source of power for effecting said selected illumination by said bulbs in response to selective closing of said switches.

More particularly the scoreboard selected for illustration herein and which is intended for use in connection with basketball games to indicate the total fouls charged to a specific player and to indicate whether the one-and one rule is in effect for a team comprises (1) a portable, vertically extending, columnar structure of square cross section; (2) means for suspending electric wires within said structure; (3) sides for said structure each comprising three vertically slidable, normally translucent panels in vertical array, portions of which panels have been rendered opaque and the balance of which remains translucent and wherein said translucent portion is adapted to form indicia when illuminated in a selected manner; (4) vertical edges for said structure comprising vertically grooved rods wherein said grooves are adapted to receive said panels in slidable engagement; (5) indicia on one of said three panels comprising seven translucent segments, four vertical and three horizontal, arranged to form a block 8 and adapted, when selectively illuminated, to form any one of a series of numerals; (6) a light bulb positioned behind each of said segments, each said bulb in electrical contact with one of said wires, and each said bulb adapted to illuminate its juxtaposed segment in response to the closing of a switch; (7) partitions on the inside of said structure and adapted to shield a segment from light illuminating another segment; (8) indicia on a second of said three panels comprising three translucent portions which form, when selectively illuminated, the letter V, a numeral 1 and a second numeral 1; (9) a light bulb behind said second panel in electrical contact with one of said wires and adapted to illuminate the translucent portions of said second panel in response to the closing of a switch; (10) indicia on the third of said three panels comprising three translucent portions which form when selectively illuminated the letter H, a numeral 1 and a second numeral 1; (11) a light bulb behind said third panel in electrical contact with one of said wires and adapted to illuminate the translucent portions of said third panel in response to the closing of a switch; (12) partitions between said first and said second panel and between said second said third panel adapted to shield each panel from light illuminating another panel; and (13) control means comprising a plurality of switches in electrical contact with said wires, said light bulbs and a source of power and wherein selected illumination is effected by said bulbs with selective closing of said switches.

I have also found that a suitable sharpness of each numeral being displayed can be attained if the panel (that is, the entire panel) in which the numeral segments are formed is translucent and light diffusing; that is, the light diffusing property extends beyond the translucent segment into the portion rendered opaque. For some reason not entirely clear to me this permits of the use of a single light bulb behind each segment and yet a very sharp image, easily discernable at a distance of several hundred feet, is produced.

The invention can be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention. The embodiment illustrated can be used at a basketball game as a scoreboard to indicate, when a foul has been committed, the total number of fouls charged to the player committing the foul and whether the one-and-one rule (designated by a pair of numerals 1) is in effect for either the home team (designated by the letter H) or the visiting team (designated by the letter V).

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scoreboard embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view, taken in horizontal cross section, along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, taken in vertical cross section, along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view, taken in horizontal cross section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, having a portion broken away and in section, of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical cross section showing, in more detail, the inner construction of the uppermost indicia panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view, taken in vertical cross section, along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of two panel back plate elements of the embodiment as they would appear prior to their being interlocked; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram showing means for electrical operation of the scoreboard disclosed as illustrative of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings;

A vertically extending, columnar-like scoreboard, indicated generally by 10 is illustrated as held aloft by pedestal shaft 11 and pedestal base 12, but could be, for example, suspended from a ceiling, attached to a wall, or set on a table, similarly, the scoreboard of the drawing is illustrated as being vertically extending but could be horizontally extending. Electric power is supplied to the scoreboard via the cord 13 which is to be connected to a floor or wall plug and thus to a source of electric current. A control box 14 containing switches 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 controls the distribution of electric current within the scoreboard 10 via the wires 22.

The scoreboard 10 has a square cross section, as illustrated, but may have any polygonal cross section, e.g.,

rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, etc. Each of the sides of the scoreboard 10 comprise, as shown, three rectangular panels 23, 24, and 25, in vertical array. It will be apparent, however, that each side can consist of one panel or can be divided into a number other than three. The panels 23, 24, 25 are constructed of a translucent material, light diffusing material such as fiberglass, frosted glass, or translucent materials sold under the name Plexiglas.

Each first, or uppermost panel 23 has portions rendered opaque by painting these portions black on the inside, the outside, or both. The portions of panel 23 remaining translucent form the circle 26 and the block 8. The word FOULS appearing across the bottom of panel 23, since it does not require alteration during a game, may be placed on the panel 23 in any suitable manner such as by painting, by attaching a printed card, etc.

The translucent block 8 (see FIG. 6) is made up of seven translucent strips 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33; four vertical and three horizontal; and light bulbs 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40, each held in position by a back plate 41, are respectively positioned behind each strip. Selective illumination of the light bulbs behind the strips permit of the formation of the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, where one desires to record the total fouls charged to a basketball player or may, in other embodiments of the invention, also form the numerals, 0, 6, 7, 8, or 9, if one desires to record some other statistic requiring such a span of numerals.

The back plates 41 are interlocked in egg crate fashion, as illustrated in FIG. 8; a first pair of oppositely disposed plates being notched from the top, such as in the case of notch 42, and a second pair of oppositely disposed plates being notched from the bottom, such as in the case of notch 43.

The translucent circle 26 backed up by a red light bulb 44 which can be substituted by the combination of an ordinary light bulb behind a red plastic film, becomes illuminated when the numeral 5 appears in the block 8 and indicates that the basketball player committing a foul has had five fouls charged against him and must leave the game. The red light bulb 44 is held in place by the back 41 for its respective side of the device.

Each middle panel 24 is similar to the upper panel 23 except, as shown, the translucent portion of the panel includes the letter H and two occurrences of the numeral 1. This panel is backed up by a light bulb 45 held in place by a reflecting back plate 46, the latter being a metal, plastic or paper board strip which is bent into a parabolic or other suitable shape. The light bulb 45, when illuminated, indicates that the one-and-one rule is in effect for the home team.

Each bottom panel 25 is similar to the other two panels 23 and 24 except, as shown, the translucent portion of the panel includes the letter V and two occurrences of the numeral 1. This panel is backed up by a light bulb 47 held in place by a reflecting back plate 48 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), the latter being a metal strip which is bent into a parabolic shape, a V-shape or the like. The light bulb 47, when illuminated, indicates that the one-and-one rule is in effect for the visiting team.

The vertical edges 49 (see FIG. 5) of the scoreboard are constructed of a rigid rod-shaped material, such as an aluminum extrusion, and are provided with vertical grooves such as the vertical groove 50 into which the panels 23, 2 4, 25 slide, although means other than grooves may be used to retain the panels 23, 24, 25 in position such as screws or bolts (not shown).

Partitions such as are shown at 51 and 52 (see FIG. 3) lie horizontally and are positioned between the uppermost panel 23 and the middle panel 24 and between the middle panel 24 and the bottom panel 25 respectively. These partitions, 51 and 52, serve to strengthen the structure and to shield one panel from light illuminating another panel.

Partitions, such as are shown at 53 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 7), are formed from a metal, plastic or paperboard strip which is bent in a manner so as to compartmentalize each of the translucent strips 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 of the block 8 and serve to shield one strip from light illuminating another strip. It is preferred that partitions 53 be removably fixed in position to accommodate panel changes in a manner to be discussed more fully later.

A conduit 54 which, as shown, may be an extension of the pedestal shaft 11 contains the electric wires 22 which supply current to the various light bulbs of the structure. It will be apparent that conduit 54 can be dispensed with, or may penetrate the structure part way, and that the wires 22 can be wound together and suspended within the scoreboard in the absence of conduit means.

The top of the scoreboard 10 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) is closed by means of a removable panel 55 which is fastened to the top ends of the vertical edges 49 by means of knurled screws 56 or by other suitable fastening means.

A control box 14, as shown in FIG. 1 is provided with five switches 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 to operate selectively the illumination of the strips 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 making up the block 8 of the uppermost panel 23 and is provided with two switches 20 and 21 to operate selectively the illumination of the middle and lower panels 24 and 25 respectively.

The details of the electrical circuit for the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES l-8 inclusive are shown in FIG- URE 9.

Referring to FIGURE 9, electrical power is provided via cord 13 to a transformer 57 which converts the line voltage to a voltage of, preferably, about 25 volts. One side of the transformer secondary leads via wire 58 to a pole of the plurality of switches 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. The other side of the transformer secondary leads; via the wire 59 and the parallel bank of light bulbs, indicated generally by 60; to the second pole of the switches 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21.

A bank of four light bulbs 34 one for each of the four translucent strips 27 on the four sides of the scoreboard 10 are shown to be in series with each other and in series with each of several switches 16, 17, and 19 (the switches being in parallel with each other). It will be apparent that the light bulbs 34 could also be in parallel. Thus the closing of any one of the switches 16, 17, or 19 causes the light bulb 34 to light up and illuminate strip 27 of the block 8. Strip 27 would be illuminated, in the embodiment being illustrated, in the formation of the numerals 2, 3 and 5.

Similarly, a bank of four light bulbs one for each of the four translucent strips 28 on the four sides of the scoreboard 10 are shown in series with each other and in series with switches 18 and 19. Thus, the closing of either of the switches 18 or 19 would cause the light bulb 35 to light up and illuminate strip 28 of the block 8. Strip 28 would be illuminated in the formation of numerals 4 and 5 in the described embodiment.

Similarly light bank 36 is responsive to switches 15, 16, 17, and 18, and illuminates strip 29 in the formation of numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Similarly light bank 37 is responsive to switches 16, 17, 18, and 19 and illuminates strips 30 in the formation of numerals 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Similarly light bank 38 is responsive to switch 16 and illuminates strips 31 in the formation of numeral 2.

Similarly light bank 39 is responsive to switches 15, 17, 18, and 19 and illuminates strips 32 in the formation of numerals l, 3, 4, and 5.

Similarly light bank is responsive to switches 16, 17, and 19 and illuminates strips 33 in the formation of numerals 2, 3, and 5.

The bank of red lights 44 is connected in series with switch 19 and are illuminated whenever switch 19 is closed signalling that the maximum number of fouls have been charged to a player.

The bank of four lights illuminating the four middle panels 24 are in series with switch '20 and the bank of four lights 47 illuminating the four bottom panels 25 are in series with switch 21.

Other control means for effecting the desired selective illumination may be substituted for the one described, it being necessary only that suitable electrical elements cooperate with a selected illuminating means and a selected switching means. It will be apparent also that one set of switches 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 can be used to operate a plurality of scoreboards of the invention. The dotted line (FIG. 9), for example, indicates that light bulbs 34a are on a second scoreboard and are connected in parallel to light bulbs 34 on a first scoreboard and therefore bulbs 34a would be responsive to switches 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 in the same manner as bulbs 34.

OPERATION When a basketball player is charged with his first foul, switch 15 of the control box 14 is closed. This results in the turning on of the bulbs 36 and 39 and the ilumination of translucent strips 29 and 32. The spectators can then observe the numeral 1 formed in the uppermost panel 23 on all four sides of the scoreboard 10. When a period of time sufficient for the spectators to have observed the numeral 1 has elapsed switch 15 is opened. When a player is charged with his second foul switch 16 is closed. This results in the turning on of the bulbs 34, 36, 37, 38, and 40 and the illuminating of strips 27, 29, 30, 31, and 33. The spectators can then observe the numeral 2 formed in the uppermost panels 23 on all four sides of the scoreboard 10. When necessary, the numerals 3, 4 and 5 are formed in like manner by closing switches 17, 18 or 19, respectively. The red light 44 bebind the circular translucent portion 26 of panel 23 is turned on when switch 19 is closed; that is, upon the commission of a fifth foul by the same player.

When the one-and one rule is in effect for the home team switch 20 is closed, the bulbs in light bank 45 are turned on and the translucent portion of the middle panels 24 on all four sides of the scoreboard 10 becomes illuminated. The spectators can then observe the letter H and the numerals 1. When the one-and-one rule is in effect for the visiting team, switch 21 is closed and in like manner the spectators can then observe the letter V and the numerals l on the bottom panels 25 on all four sides of the scoreboard 10.

The embodiment of the invention described can be modified readily to serve as a scoreboard in a sport other than basketball. For example, if it were desired to indicate the order in which numbered swimmers stand during the course of a swimming meet, or the order in which such numbered swimmers finish, it would be necessary only to provide the scoreboard with a plurality of panels, as many as desired, with a block 8; that is, similar to panel 23 as described previously.

It may be noted that the scoreboard of the invention when constructed with a plurality of sections such as the one illustrated by panel 23; light bulbs 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40; and partitions 53 can easily be changed into a scoreboard constructed of sections such as the one illustrated by panel 24 and light bulb 42, it being necessary only to remove the partitions 53 and interchange panel 23 for the one desired. Such a scoreboard, when constructed of slidably removable panels and portable partitions as indicated, could be used in many sports. In this manner a small school, for example, need not go to the expense of purchasing a separate and complete scoreboard for each spectator sport.

As indicated above, conversion of a scoreboard equipped with a plurality of block 8 sections for use, for example, in a swimming emeet can be readily converted for use in basketball to indicate when the one-andone rule is in effect by merely removing a few partitions (e.g., 53) and interchanging a few panels (e.g., panel such as 24 substituted for a panel such as 23). Thus I prefer that at least one panel of the scoreboard of the invention and preferably all be provided with a :block 8 and its accompanying illuminating means. A plurality of such panels gives the scoreboard a wide flexibility of use particularly where economic conditions dictate the adaptation of one scoreboard to a number of sports.

It is to be understood that the above specifically described embodiment constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention and is used for purposes of illustration only, that the invention is not limited to the precise form disclosed and various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A scoreboard comprising (a) a portable, vertically extending columnar structure of square cross section;

(b) electric wires;

(c) means for suspending said electric wires within said structure;

((1) means comprising sides for said structure each of which comprises a rectangular, normally translucent, light diifusing, vertically slidable panel, portions of which panel have been rendered opaque and the other portions of which remain as a plurality of translucent, light diffusing segments for forming in dicia when said segments are illuminated in a selected manner;

(e) vertical edges for said structure comprising vertically grooved rods wherein said grooves are adapted to receive said panel in slidable engagement;

(f) indicia on said panel comprising seven of said segments, four vertical and three horizontal, arranged to form a block 8, and adapted, when selectively illuminated, to form a numeral;

(g) means comprising a single light bulb behind each of said segments, each in electrical contact with one of said wires, and for illuminating its juxtaposed segment in response to the closing of a switch;

(h) means comprising partitions on the inside of said structure for shielding each segment from light illuminating another segment; and

(i) control means comprising a plurality of remotely positioned switches, said wires, said bulbs and a source of power for effecting said selected illumination by said bulbs in response to unpredictable selective closing of said switches.

2. The scoreboard according to claim 1 wherein said partitions are removably secured within said structure.

3. A scoreboard for use in basketball to indicate the total fouls charged to a specific player and to indicate whether the one-and-one rule is in effect for a team, said scoreboard comprising (a) a portable, vertically extending, columnar structure of square cross section;

(b) electric wires;

(c) means for suspending said electric wires within said structure;

(d) means comprising sides for said structure each of which comprises a normally transparent, light diffusing, vertically slidable panel, portions of which panel have been rendered opaque and the other portions of which remain as a plurality of translucent, light diffusing segments for forming indicia when said segments are illuminated in a selected manner;

(e) means comprising vertical edges for said structure each of which comprises a vertically grooved rod wherein said grooves are for receiving said panel in slidable engagement;

(f) first indicia on said panel comprising seven of said segments, four vertical and three horizontal, arranged to form a block 8 and adapted, when selectively illuminated, to form a numeral;

(g) a single light bulb positioned behind each of said seven segments, each said bulb in electrical contact i with one of said wires, and each said bulb adapted to illuminate its juxtaposed segment in response to the closing of a switch;

(h) means comprising partitions on the inside of said structure and adapted to shield each segment from light illuminating another segment;

(i) second indicia on said panel comprising three translucent portions which form, when selectively illuminated, the letter V, a numeral 1 and a second numeral 1;

(j) a single light bulb behind said second indicia in electrical contact with one of said wires and adapted to illuminate said second indicia in response to the closing of a switch;

(k) third indicia on said panel comprising three translucent portions which form when selectively illuminated the letter H, a numeral 1 and a second numeral 1;

(l) a single light bulb behind said third indicia in electrical contact with one of said wires and adapted to illuminate said third indicia in response to the closing of a switch;

(m) means comprising partitions between said first and said second indicia and between said second and said third indicia for shielding each indicia from light illuminating another indicia;

(11) means comprising partitions between the several sides of said structure for for shielding the indicia of each side from light illuminating any indicia of another side; and

(0) control means comprising a plurality of remotely positioned switches, said wires, said light bulbs and a source of power for effecting said selected illumination by said bulbs with unpredictable selective closing of said switches.

4. The scoreboard according to claim 3 wherein said Wire suspending means is a conduit.

5. The scoreboard according to claim 3 wherein said segment shielding partitions are removably secured within said structure.

6. The scoreboard according to claim 3 wherein each said side comprises three vertically slidable panels and wherein each of said three indicia is on a separate panel.

7. A scoreboard comprising (a) a pedestal having a base portion and a vertical columnar portion;

(b) a plurality of horizontal plate members, vertically spaced, and fixed to said columnar portion;

(c) vertically aligned longitudinally grooved rods attached to the edges of said plate members and extending from the uppermost to the lowermost of such members;

(d) a plurality of normally transparent, light diffusing, panel means having portions covered with an opaque material for forming indicia, slidably engaged in the grooves of said grooved rods;

(e) reflector surfaces curved inward from some of said panel means, extending between adjacent grooved rods and having holes therein;

(f) back plates comprising a first pair of oppositely disposed plates vertically notched from the top and a second pair of oppositely disposed plates vertically notched from the bottom, positioned with notches interlocked, and attached behind other of said panel means, each plate having a plurality of holes positioned behind segments of said indicia;

(g) illuminating means inserted in each hole in said reflector means and in each hole of said back plates;

(h) electrical control and power transmission means for remotely selectively illuminating certain of said illuminating means in response to unpredictable input selections; and

(i) removably mounted partition means for confining the light emitted by the illuminating means to certain segments of said indicia.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,517,239 8/1950 Rickabaugh 340323 X 3,174,144 3/1965 ONeil 340-378.1 3,206,744 9/1965 Nelson 3404l X 1,490,567 4/1924 Kleinsteuber et al. 3404l 1,527,977 3/1925 Herzog 40-130 X 2,401,478 6/1946 Grossman 40125 2,623,111 12/1952 Chervenka et a1. 340323 3,163,949 1/1965 Gley 40130 3,302,192 6/1964 Laughlin 340-378 JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner.

H. I. PITTS, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,399,400 August 27, 1968 Eugene R. Lucka It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 41, "said second said third panel" should read said second and said third panel Column 4, line 73, "back 41" should read back plate 41 Column 8, line 58, "structure for for shielding" should read said structure for shielding Signed and sealed this 13th day of January 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

